Big Ten, Big 12 Athletes To Receive Payments Through PayPal

Numerous college athletes, including those at Rutgers, Penn State, and Maryland, will begin getting direct payments from their schools via Venmo and PayPal.

A Penn State Nittany Lions football game and a Maryland Terrapins women’s basketball game.

On March 30, 2025, the Penn State Nittany Lions and UConn Huskies square off in the NCAA Division I men’s hockey tournament at the PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.

In February 2020, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and Northwestern Wildcats played men’s basketball at Jersey Mike’s Arena in Piscataway, New Jersey.

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PayPal stated on Thursday, June 26 that it has partnered with the Big Ten and Big 12 conferences for the payments for a number of years. In the age of name, image, and likeness (NIL) deals, the agreement represents a significant change in the way collegiate players can make money off of their careers.

According to PayPal, it will provide Big Ten and Big 12 universities with a safe and effective method of paying athletes directly.

“We’re proud to help lead this transformation in college athletics by making it easier and faster for student-athletes to receive funds and continue to bring trusted and innovative commerce solutions to the heart of campus life,” Alex Chriss, president and CEO of PayPal, said. “From receiving institutional payments to making everyday purchases, we’re helping student-athletes, families, and schools engage in new ways that are modern, secure, and built for the future.”

The collaboration coincides with the impending implementation of a historic court decision that will significantly alter the financial environment of elite collegiate athletics. The House v. NCAA settlement was completed earlier in June, enabling colleges to pay athletes directly.

Many clubs had been paying athletes through brand sponsorships or NIL collectives prior to the verdict. According to CNBC, the NCAA will reimburse past athletes up to $2.8 billion in back compensation, while colleges can now pay current players up to $20.5 million a year.

PayPal’s infrastructure will be used by athletic departments to send institutional payments, enabling athletes to get their money right away. These payments can be used for textbooks, tickets, and other campus purchases using PayPal’s platforms.

According to Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, the partnership with PayPal will facilitate player payments.

“We look forward to partnering with PayPal to ensure a secure, rapid and reliable way for student-athletes to receive institutional payments as we welcome in this new era in college athletics,” Petitti said.

In addition to becoming the official payments partner for Big 12 championships, PayPal-owned Venmo will serve as the primary sponsor of the inaugural Big Ten Rivalry Series in basketball and football. Venmo balances will be used by students to pay for books, concessions, and tickets.

According to PayPal, student-athlete payments will start to be made in the summer. It is anticipated that certain schools will begin accepting PayPal tuition payments in early 2026.

On Tuesday, July 1, the House v. NCAA settlement formally becomes operative.